Post Liver Transplant AFP level

My dad got Liver Transplant on Dec 8, 2009. He had cirrhosis and HCC. The tumor were not more than 2 cm and localized to liver only. Pre-transplant (11/10/09 -- 25 days before LT) his AFP was very high -- around 2500. In June 2009 it was 18000 and he underwent chemoembolization which brought AFP down is 20 in 2 weeks.

After LT he is doing better, LFT is in normal range. But a recent AFP test (Jan 21, 2010) showed 3000.

Does it mean HCC is coming back? How long does it take for AFP to go down post transplant?

Thanks

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

i doubt that this would be related to HCC recurrence this soon after transplantation.  it may take some time for the AFP to normalize post-liver transplant.